The government-run Gokuldas Tejpal (GT) hospital has now opened a ward specially for the transgender community in order to address their health issues and provide comfortable medical treatment to the community. This is a first of its kind initiative for the transgender community in government hospitals in Maharashtra.

It will be a 30-bed ward at the hospital. According to the hospital authorities, they have spoken to all the stakeholders, especially the representatives from the transgender community, before initiating the ward.

Dr. Pallavi Saple, Dean of JJ Hospital, said, “It has been planned for many years. Usually, transgender persons are admitted to a female ward. Many a time, there is hesitation between female patients and staff members about having a conversation with the transgender community in order to share wards, toilets, and other facilities. We thought there was a need for opening a separate ward for this community, which helps in giving them comfort in the hospital while undergoing treatment.”

The hospital has provided sensitisation training to over 150 staff members before opening the ward.

According to officials, a few beds in the ward were previously reserved for the community.

The government is planning to open similar wards in other government hospitals too, depending on the demand from the community.

Girish Mahajan, Minister of Medical Education, said, “We are planning to open a transgender ward in Pune-based Sassoon Hospital too. While the ward need not be a 30-bed ward, depending on the infrastructure available and the demand, we will be deciding the ward capacity.”

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Speaking about whether they undertook any suggestions from the community members, Dr. Pallavi said, “transgender community and other stakeholders were asked to give us input or suggestions before opening the ward. We got to know that their main problem was the attitude they receive from society at large and medical staff members in the hospital. We wanted to address the problem and come up with a better solution.”

Patients will have the option to reveal their gender preferences on the OPD paper.

Dr. Pallavi mentioned, “The government hospitals in Mumbai will have an option for patients to declare their gender identity. If a transgender person doesn`t have an identity card, they can give a self-declaration which will help the medical staff to address them in a friendly way.”

The hospital also inaugurated a de-addiction ward.

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